378 SUMMER. 



base of the bill may also assist in the intercepting of 

 the smaller insects, while the tribular form of the nos- 

 trils prevents the little ones from getting into those 

 apertures. The structure of the feet is peculiar, the 

 legs are short and feathered, the three front toes are 

 united as far as the first joint, the claw of the middle 

 one is serrated, and the hind one is reversible, so 

 that all the four can act in the same direction. In 

 consequence of this, the bird perches longitudinally 

 upon a branch, and not crosswise, as the majority of 

 birds do. Thus it is much better concealed during the 

 day than if it had the reverse position. It cannot be 

 seen from below, and as it crouches close to the branch, 

 it is not easily discovered, laterally. Whether the cur- 

 vated claws assist it in capturing its larger prey, as well 

 as in perching, has not been ascertained ; but it is by 

 no means improbable, as the feathering of the legs is 

 always accompanied by a more than ordinary action of 

 the toes, or as a preventative against severe cold ; and 

 the goatsucker does not require it for the latter pur- 

 pose, as it retires to warmer countries in August, or, at 

 the very latest, in the beginning of September. From 

 the times at which the goatsucker comes to this country, 

 and leaves it, one would be led to suppose that the 

 grand object of its coming is to thin the beetles, the 

 scarabceus melalontha, and scarabauss olstitialis, which 

 become inhabitants of the air in succession during the 

 greater part of the time that it is in the country, and 

 which " wheel their droning flights" at the dusky hour 

 when it comes abroad from its perch, and j.ars along 

 the air. Probably also the water beetles form part of 

 its food, as we have seen it in waste places near water, 



